Difference Between Accept & Except

Accept vs Except

The difference between accept and except is easy to understand when pronounced correctly. The two words are often confused in their usage and meanings, primarily due to their similar pronunciations. Accept is primarily used as a verb, meaning ‘agree to’ or ‘receive something without saying no.’ In contrast, except is mainly used as a preposition, meaning ‘apart from’ or ‘excluding.’ This article will clarify the difference between the two words.

What does Accept mean?

Accept means to agree to something or to receive it without saying no. Consider the following examples:

1. Francis accepted the invitation and attended the party.
2. Angela is not willing to accept the suggestion.

In the first example, accept means saying yes to the invitation. In the second example, it means agreeing to the suggestion. The noun form of accept is ‘acceptance.’

What does Except mean?

Except is used to mean ‘apart from’ or ‘excluding.’ Consider the following examples:

1. Lucy agreed to all the conditions except one.
2. Except Francis, all the other flat owners attended the meeting.

In both examples, except is used in the sense of ‘excluding.’ The noun form of except is ‘exception.’ Additionally, except can be used as a conjunction, as in the example: “I did not tell him anything except that you will not come to the party.”

Key Takeaways

• Accept is used in the sense of ‘agree to’ or ‘receiving something without saying no.’
• Except is used in the sense of ‘apart from’ or ‘excluding.’
• Accept is mainly used as a verb, while except is used as a preposition and occasionally as a conjunction.